Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Yamhill County probation officers to arm themselves
Tuesday, May 09, 2006 | No comments posted.
MCMINNVILLE (AP) - An arbitrator ruled that Yamhill County's parole and probation officers may carry guns.
The issue had been a hurdle in collective bargaining between Yamhill County and the Federation of Oregon Parole and Probation Officers, with the union demanding the option of allowing the officers to carry concealed weapons.
The county said it will not contest last week's ruling by arbitrator William Greer.
“We intend to implement,” said Richard Sly of the Yamhill County Corrections Department. “We don't intend to ignore the arbitrator's award.”
The county's 12-member parole and probation team supervises 1,400 offenders. The union contends that the clientele has become more dangerous.
“Safety has been our main concern,” said Lisa Settell, who heads the union's local chapter. “The homes we're going into are some of the most dangerous homes in Yamhill County. We've felt the need to be able to protect ourselves.”
Thirty-one of Oregon's 36 counties either require officers to carry a firearm or allow them to do so. Yamhill County's pending change leaves Clatsop, Hood River, Polk and Washington as the only counties that don't allow guns on the job.
The county argued that introducing guns into situations where there was already a potential for confrontation would increase the risk of injury or death.
Sly said it could take months for the policy change to take effect.
“Officers who choose to arm themselves will need to undergo a psychological evaluation to determine their suitability,” he said.
He said they also will need to log 40 hours of firearms training with the Oregon Department Police Standards and Training in Monmouth.
The issue had been a hurdle in collective bargaining between Yamhill County and the Federation of Oregon Parole and Probation Officers, with the union demanding the option of allowing the officers to carry concealed weapons.
The county said it will not contest last week's ruling by arbitrator William Greer.
“We intend to implement,” said Richard Sly of the Yamhill County Corrections Department. “We don't intend to ignore the arbitrator's award.”
The county's 12-member parole and probation team supervises 1,400 offenders. The union contends that the clientele has become more dangerous.
“Safety has been our main concern,” said Lisa Settell, who heads the union's local chapter. “The homes we're going into are some of the most dangerous homes in Yamhill County. We've felt the need to be able to protect ourselves.”
Thirty-one of Oregon's 36 counties either require officers to carry a firearm or allow them to do so. Yamhill County's pending change leaves Clatsop, Hood River, Polk and Washington as the only counties that don't allow guns on the job.
The county argued that introducing guns into situations where there was already a potential for confrontation would increase the risk of injury or death.
Sly said it could take months for the policy change to take effect.
“Officers who choose to arm themselves will need to undergo a psychological evaluation to determine their suitability,” he said.
He said they also will need to log 40 hours of firearms training with the Oregon Department Police Standards and Training in Monmouth.
The comments below are from users of theworldlink.com and do not necessarily represent the views of The World or Lee Enterprises. Participation Guidelines
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Not already registered?
The World welcomes your comments about stories, and we encourage a robust dialogue on this site. All comments must meet reasonable standards of decency and civility.
Please follow these basic rules:
- No defamatory comments about individuals or businesses.
- No deliberately false information.
- No obscenity or racially offensive language.
- No harassment, verbal abuse, threats or personal attacks.
- No information that invades another person's privacy.
- No business solicitations or charitable solicitations.
Comments that violate these standards will not be posted. Users with repeated violations may be banned from future posting.Comments will be approved throughout the day during business hours. After hours and weekend comments may not appear until the following business day. It may take a couple of hours before comments are approved.
The World generally does not edit comments, but we reserve the right to edit any comment that does not meet our standards.
Close Guidelines